Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)(58)

The black clouds broke; I sucked in a ragged breath. Insanity gave way to sanity, soothing my feral heartbeat. I’d almost lost myself.

I’d been too caught up in the charade—I almost became him. I’d stepped over that line and would’ve broken Tess if Franco hadn’t caught her.

Time played its cruel joke again, draining me as if it’d been days, not minutes.

I’m not strong enough. I’ll snap before it’s over.

Franco followed my breakdown. “You probably have another hour before that thing wears off. Don’t take too long.”

Urgency laced my heart. I only had to survive another hour, then Tess would be free and I could get as far away from her as possible. I could find an outlet for all this blackness inside and spare her from my rage.

Gathering my tattered energy, I collected Tess in a stronger grip. My eyes met Franco’s as I dragged her backward to the door. I should thank him for helping, but I couldn’t. Seeing her naked was all the f*cking thanks he’d get.

Tess fought, wrenching her mouth free from my grip. She winced as something struck her foot. “Let me go. No! I don’t want to go back in there.” Her heels left indents in the grass as I stole her back to her nightmares.

“You don’t have a choice. And if you ever recall what really happened today, try and remember never to run from me again. You were lucky this time. Next time—” My voice drifted off as another wave of need crippled me.

Her heat and wriggling body scrambled my self-control.

Reaching the door, I yelled at Franco, “Don’t worry about what’s going on in here. Just do your f*cking job and keep watch.”

Franco smiled, saluting me flippantly. “Keep watch for her running again or intruders?”

I bared my teeth, slamming the door in his face. I left him standing in the sunlight while I welcomed Tess back to the dark. The soundproofed dark where her screams didn’t matter, her tears wouldn’t be seen, and no one would find out how f*cking dangerous all of this was.

Breathing hard, I stomped through the house with a fighting naked woman in my arms.

“I won’t do it. I won’t hurt them. You’ll have to kill me this time,” she rambled, her fingernails clawing at my arms. I clamped my fingers over her mouth again. I couldn’t listen to how much damage I caused.

I hissed as she drew blood, but managed to keep the monster locked in its cage—I had no f*cking clue how.

This house was too big—too far to drag a woman who I wanted so f*cking bad. My jaw ached from clenching by the time I marched her into the bathroom. The minute I’d slammed and locked the door, I unglued my fingers from around her lips.

Tension suffocated the room, swamping the area with Tess’s panic and my self-restraint. She backed up, seething, “You said I could be free. I took the initiative.”

I dragged my hands over my face, scrubbing hard against the headache, grime, and severely tested discipline. There would be no breaking her. She was too damn strong. I had to hope my second idea would work better than my first. It would also test every inch of my self-control.

You’re tempting fate. Don’t do it.

Ignoring myself, I growled, “You didn’t ask permission. You think you can get what you want without asking?”

Tess pressed her lips together, not saying a word.

Scowling, I stalked toward her, crowding her against the wall. Her eyes flared, dancing with panic and anger. I pressed my body against hers, shivering with how good she felt. Every inch of my erection throbbed, digging into her belly. I lost my thoughts, my decency, my f*cking human spirit.

Her stomach rose and fell with uneven breaths; her delectable curves tempted me to hell.

Take her. No one would know. Just one thrust. Just one release.

My cock became possessed. Every rub of her, no matter how gentle, was enough to send me into full-body convulsions.

I needed to come. Badly. It tainted my every thought, made it that much harder to stay sane.

Tess looked up, glaring deep into my soul. “You’re a traitor. A liar. And a thief.”

I backed away, unable to ignore the churning in my gut and overwhelming pressure in my balls. Why had she said that—what did she see?

Tess moved quickly, dashing to the door.

Goddammit.

In a quick strike, I planted myself in front of her, barricading the exit.

She glowered, then in a totally defiant move, ripped my shirt off her body, and threw it in my face.

I shoved it away, breathing hard, willing myself to keep control.

Christ, she was f*cking amazing. Lean muscles, tight stomach, beautiful full tits. “What the hell are you doing to me?” I groaned.

Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.

Tess didn’t seem to notice; she planted her hands on her naked hips, hissing, “You were wrong to bring me back. You should’ve left me alone. You’d won. Don’t you get it?” Taking a step closer, she accented every move, sashaying her hips, seducing me with every f*cking twitch.

“I’d lost myself. I’d turned my master’s life into a misery. You’d won!” Her head bowed, her gaze flickering down my chest. There was nothing weak or coy about her now, it was complete steel and rebellion.

She looked up through hooded eyes. “But now…” One step closer. Another. “Now, I’m beginning to remember.”